imported post
I spoke with my SS buddy today. We had an interesting conversation regarding OC'ing.
Before I get into my thread I would like you all to be aware of the following caveat:
-- My SS buddy said if this was going on a chat board it would be done on a not for attribution basis and that any statement he gave me was his personal opinion / experience dealing with OC as a SS Agent and does not reflect official SS policy on the matter. Furthermore, the conversation was carried on within the context of how SS reacts to persons OC'ing in OC legal states, like Virginia or Texas.
1) Concerning OC'ing and SS powers. According my SS Buddy, under USC 35 or 36 (he couldn't tell me which one definitively) the SS has the power to enforce a "protection zone" (his description) for their protectee(s) and that this zone basically existed wherever Agents with protectee(s) were. I know that somebody on the forum earlier asked whether the mere presence of a protectee (e.g., POTUS) make a place (i.e., a park, a hotel) federal property. He said this is not correct, that the mere presence of a protectee does not make a facility federal property, but that the law was very clear about the SS' powers to enact a federal protection zone (very nebulous) and require all within in to be unarmed unless authorized to be so. I pushed him to define what a protection zone might be but he could not definitvely describe the zone in terms of area, timing, etc. Basically, the zone is what the SS agent thinks is necessary to protect their protectee.
2) Running into SS with protectee while OC'ing. I think somebody on the forum asked what could the SS do if you ran into them with their protectee at a bookstore or a resturant. My SS buddy said, in general, if the person OC'ing was at a location first the SS guys will 1) Ask their protectee to go somewhere else, like Borders instead of Barnes and Nobles; 2) Ask the OC'er to leave (establishing a protection zone around their protectee) and if you do not comply they'll a) take their protectee somewhere else, b) haul you out c) arrest you. Basically, he said SS is going to ask you to leave or secure your weapon in your vehicle. Now if you walk in on a SS agent detail with their protectee when they were at a location first, he said they were going to ask you to leave because they established their protection zone before you came.
3) OC'ing at /near a SS-proteced, delineated event. My SS buddy said boundaries are, in general, very clear during a political event (e.g., inaugaration, poltical rally) often requiring people to go through a metal scanner and stay within a defined area. In those circumstances the SS has full power to limit who comes in. I asked him what about people outside the line who might be OC'ing. He said if they see it they will address it. If the person is loitering outside the line they'll definitely get paid a vist by agents. However, if the person is walking by they'll in most cases, tell the person to keep walking, and if they don't comply walk up to them and begin asking questions.
I know these explanations are less than ideal but it at least gives you some insight into the mind of one SS agent's thinking on OC.
